The attack on the Imperial City of Hue was an earth-shattering event in Annam. As the ships of the Northern Navy stayed anchored outside Hue Port for longer and longer, the relevant news seemed to have wings, traveling along the post roads to various places in Thua Thien Prefecture and beyond.
It spread rapidly in Quang Tri Province and Quang Nam Province on the north and south sides.
Just four days after the Imperial City of Hue was bombarded, in Hoi An City, more than 200 miles away from Hue, a group of Chinese businessmen from Zhejiang, Fujian, and Guangdong left their homes and gathered at the foreign merchants on the banks of the Thu Phnom River.
Guild Hall.
Starting from the Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty, with the rise of Hoi An Port, Chinese businessmen on the southeast coast of China set off a boom in trade with Vietnam, which also led to the formation of the Chinese community in Hoi An. By the mid-seventeenth century, Hoi An "Datang"
The Chinese community on the "street" has become quite large. Among them are businessmen from Fujian, Guangdong and Zhejiang who went south to seek gold, as well as survivors of the Ming Dynasty who went south to seek refuge during the changes in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
In the early days of Hoi An, the majority were Chinese and islanders. After the Tokugawa shogunate promulgated the maritime ban, the Japanese towns in various parts of Southeast Asia declined rapidly. However, the number of Chinese businessmen coming to Hoi An for trade increased day by day, and the size of Tang Street also followed.
Expansion.
In the early 18th century, Annam had two major trading ports, namely Hien Nam at the port of the Red River in the north and Hoi An in the south. Their prosperity could not be compared to that of Hue, the capital. However, after the Tay Son Uprising, the commercial development of the two places declined.
The environment has been severely damaged and will never be the same again.
Fifteen years ago, the army of the Trinh clan and the Tay Son army fought in Kam Sa, twenty miles north of Hoi An. After that, Hoi An changed hands several times between the old Nguyen, the Trinh clan and the new Nguyen, and suffered many wars.
Nowadays, many houses in Hoi An City were newly built after the founding of the Tay Son Dynasty. However, broken walls and shelters made of straw and bamboo can still be seen in the streets.
Amidst the light rain, the bluestone courtyard in front of Thean Hou Temple in the guild hall was kept spotless, like a large mirror, reflecting the surrounding flower-tree houses.
In the conference hall in the east wing of the hospital, a businessman from Fuzhou took out a small white flat box with text patterns on it. After opening it, he took out a match from inside, and then put the red match head on the side of the box.
A stroke was made on the black strip, and with a "click" sound, the match immediately lit.
"Everyone, this is a thing made by Beihai Town. It is called a match. It can light a fire instantly and is very convenient. The current selling price in Jiangnan is one thousand two hundred coins per box, and one hundred sticks per box."
"Ouch~~" The eyes of the Hainanese businessmen and Guangdong businessmen in the conference hall suddenly dropped to the floor, and they all stood up and gathered around to take a closer look. Several local Chinese engaged in sea trade business were even more curious on their faces. In an instant, everyone in the room
Everyone spoke in Fujian and Cantonese dialects and talked a lot.
"Brother Lin, have you ever had sex with Beihai Town?"
"It's embarrassing to share the benefits (you are joking), how could Mr. Lin do that? I bought this from 'Huang Shengtai' in Shanghai County. It was just a novelty at the time. It is said that the dignitaries in the capital are now using this thing to start fires. It has been
No one uses flint and fire sickle anymore.”
“This thing is easy to tie, but it’s too expensive!”
"It's a tie! It's 12 cents a piece. It's not a fire starter, it's just a waste of money!"
Another businessman from Guangzhou whispered mysteriously: "You guys don't know. Chai heard from people in Thirteen Lines that this product is very popular among Westerners. It is sold to Europe, and a box is worth at least five silver coins."
.”
Uncle Tiangong! Several local Hokkien businessmen in Hoi An opened their mouths, thinking that if they buy hundreds of boxes and sell them to the local Francois and Dutch people, what kind of rice and wood will they waste? If they can hold half of them
When the ship is shipped to Hoi An, it changes hands with nothing but money.
"Lin once heard that since the imperial court lost Ninggu Pagoda and other places last year, Beihai Town has controlled most of the ginseng supply outside the customs. Nowadays, ginseng supplies from Fujian and Guangdong are scarce. If we can get involved..."
An old man interrupted: "Brother Lin, be careful! Although we make a living by sea trade, not everyone can touch it. The Beihai was a rebellion of the imperial court, and last year they even attacked the mouth of Dagong.
.Now that they are attacking Hue, they have become a formidable enemy of the Nguyen Dynasty. If we look for them at this time and are caught by the government, we may be killed."
"It's related, it's very related to what Mr. Yu said! Someone once heard a rumor that the leader of Beihai Town is related to the Ming Dynasty. It is said that he is also a descendant of King Zhao."
A Guangdong businessman said in surprise: "Ah, isn't that from Huizhou?"
"Oh? Brother Wang, tell us quickly."
"Want to be rough..."
The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was interested. In the evening, the discussions among the merchants in the foreign merchants' guild quickly reached the ears of two groups of people.
Needless to say, the local officials in Hoi An immediately compiled the rumors about Beihai Town into writing and sent people to Hue. However, to another group of local people, the rumors about Beihai Town were like a bolt from the blue.
.
"What did you say? Descendants of King Zhao?!"
In the back house of a store called "Lien Changji" on Datang Street, an old man in his fifties was stunned when he heard his son's words. He stood there for a moment, got up and hurried out of the flower hall.
It made the whole family sitting at the dinner table, waiting for the meal, stare blankly, confused.
The old man walked to his dormitory, opened a camphor wood box, and pulled out a wooden box from the bottom. He placed the wooden box on the table in front of the window, opened it, and uncovered the layers of yellow satin.
Finally, a gorgeous and exquisite golden hairpin was revealed.
The head of the hairpin is a hollow golden phoenix, which is stacked layer by layer using the silk technique. The gold wire on the belly, wings and tail of the phoenix is more suitable for fine and complex ones. The head and neck are made of thin gold sheets, even the feet.
The auspicious cloud is also hollowed out with stacked gold sheets, making it look extremely graceful and luxurious.
Although this golden hairpin has become a little darkened due to being stored for too long, and it no longer looks so golden, the workmanship is unique in the world and does not reduce its luxury.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "One hundred and twenty years, two years..." the old man murmured to himself, his eyes gradually getting moist.
"Father, what's wrong with you?" Ye Chengxiang, the old man's youngest son, opened the door and walked in. Seeing that his father didn't even bother to eat, he couldn't help but feel worried, so he came over to see what was going on.
"Chengxiang, please sit down. Dad has something to tell you." The old man wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, and then said in a deep voice: "Do you know why our Ye family took root in Hoi'an?"
Ye Chengxiang said to himself that he only mentioned Beihai Town a few times at the dinner table. Why did his father ask about it again? However, he still said seriously: "Father said before that during the revolution between the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Emperor Gaozu was unwilling to serve in the Qing Dynasty.
Fearing harm from the Qing court, my great-grandfather took his family to the south and settled in Hoi'an, in order to ensure the safety of his descendants."
"Alas, that was just what your great-grandfather said back then because he was afraid of causing trouble to the family. I have told your eldest brother before, but he... Alas, now that you have passed the age of weakness, as a father you should also deal with that
I told you the old story."
Ye Chengxiang's heart skipped a beat, and he felt that what his father was about to say might have something to do with the King Zhao of Beihai Town mentioned earlier. As expected, the old things his father told him next made him tremble with fear, and he couldn't help but sigh. However, it made him
What is even more surprising is the true identity of the owner of the large tomb in the family cemetery.
The old man was a little tired after talking for a long time. He took a sip of tea and pointed at the wooden box on the table and said, "You can make arrangements tomorrow and take this to Chengtian Mansion."
Ye Chengxiang's eyes narrowed and he said in astonishment: "Father, do you want your son to find someone from Beihai Town? But what if King Zhao is fake?"
The old man thought for a while, shook his head and said: "Since the Qing Dynasty entered the customs, I have heard of someone who used the banner of 'The Third Prince Zhu' and pretended to be King Zhao. He was just a member of the vassal clan. What did he want?"
"My Ye family has helped him keep secrets for more than a hundred years, and now it's time for him to give an explanation." The old man's originally smooth face turned to show resentment, and he looked at Ye Chengxiang and said, "It's been eight years.
, among all the shops in Datang Street, who doesn’t have a relative who died in Jiading? I can’t control others, but your eldest brother’s family cannot die in vain. If this revenge is not avenged, I, Ye Zhanrong, will have no face to face the ancestors of the Ye family!”
Outside the window, the rain fell more heavily, and the cool breeze blowing from the river made the bamboos in the courtyard sway.
It is said that after Ruan Wenhe and Xingquan went back to declare their return to the Grand Master Pei Dexuan that day, Pei Dexuan and other civil and military ministers were very angry at the aggressive words of the Beihai Navy.
At this time, Xishan was fighting against the old Ruans in the south and the Manchus in the north. They were all crazy. After experiencing the panic of the initial failure, they slowly woke up. No matter how big the ship in Beihai Town was or how big the cannon was,
Fierce, but there will always be a time when the cannonballs are used up, right? So the next step is to send troops ashore?
According to what Ruan Wenming and Xingquan saw and heard on the Thor, Pei Dexuan learned that the men of the Northern Navy were all tall and tall, and most of them spoke with Northern accents. After learning this situation, Pei Dexuan was even less anxious.
"Humph, my Annan has always been a smog-stricken place. Of the people from the north, only four or five out of ten will survive. I will fight with you to see who can't bear it first!"
Starting from General Fubo's Southern Expedition, what restricted the Central Plains Dynasty's management of the southwest frontier and large-scale military operations was never a problem of soldiers and officials, but a miasma that made people laugh. Not only people would fall ill from miasma
, even horses can get sick and die.
In the past, Sun Shiyi led troops to campaign in the autumn and winter seasons because the miasma in the border areas had subsided. In the Qing-Burmese War, infectious diseases caused by acclimatization and miasma were the main reasons for the Qing army's war weariness in the later period.
Although the miasma in various areas in the south occurs after the Qingming Festival and disappears after the Frost Festival, the miasma in southern Annan is different from other places. It can be said that it lasts in all four seasons, especially in winter and spring.
Most of the places with miasma are stacked mountains with few trees. They are exposed to rain and sun, and the climate is hot and humid. Many rivers and streams are either green or red.
Pei Dexuan relied on this. He and other civil and military officials of the Xishan Dynasty agreed that as long as the Northern Navy dared to land and fight, the Xishan Army would withdraw all the way to the west and lure the enemy deeper. If they succeeded, the opponent would definitely lose due to water, soil and miasma problems, and we could capture it.
Seize the opportunity and turn defeat into victory.
However, what Pei Dexuan didn't know was that the Manchus were unable to cope with the miasma, but the Northern Navy was clear! On the way south, Hong Tao and his medical team members repeatedly emphasized to everyone that they were absolutely not allowed to drink raw water after landing.
, eating raw or cold food is absolutely not allowed, any violation will be regarded as a violation of military discipline.
Isn't it just Plasmodium infection caused by mosquitoes? That's nothing. The biggest "magic weapon" Hong Tao prepared for this trip south is artemisinin. Of course, quinine, chloroquine, and pyrimethamine are also prepared.
Quite a few.
Although the soldiers can't go ashore these days, and it's quite hot on the ship, there is an ice machine on the Thor, so it's not a problem to cool down. If someone has a stomachache due to craving for cold, a few anti-inflammatory pills or anti-diarrhea pills can take care of everything.
Two days later, because the Tay Son Dynasty did not agree to the terms of the Northern Navy, Deng Fei ordered the two D30s on the Thor to continue bombarding the Imperial City of Hue. With the cooperation of drones, successive explosions destroyed Nguyen Quang Binh's palace.
It was a mess, all the palaces were reduced to ruins, and even a large section of the outer wall of the imperial city was blown down.
At the same time, Beihai No. 1 and No. 2 also approached the mouth of the Haikou (pronounced the same as Nuan), which was later Hue Flood Inlet, intending to pass through the mouth and enter the lagoon between the seawall and the land.
At this moment, a small fishing boat suddenly sailed out of the lagoon, and was immediately stopped by a speedboat sent by Beihai No. 1 for questioning. The person on the boat claimed to be a Tang man from Hoi An, with the surname Ye, in his early twenties, and two people.
subordinate. This person repeatedly stated that he had important secrets about Prince Zhao and asked to see the leading general of the Northern Navy.
After Deng Fei, Wang Yuanfang and Hong Tao learned about it, they all felt very funny and said to themselves that the biggest secret of "Prince Zhao" was that he was a Xibei. However, in view of the young man named Ye's pleading, the three of them could not help but have more
I was a little curious, so I asked Hai Pingzhi to send the person over.
Two hours later, Ye Chengxiang, who had been searched repeatedly, sat in the conference room of the Thor, looking around curiously. After a while, the door opened, and a man wearing a white coat and glasses, with a white face and no beard
A thin man walked in, followed by two guards.
Ye Chengxiang stood up in a hurry, saw the other party with a smile and said: "Hello, my surname is Hong, what do you call me?"
Ye Chengxiang hurriedly bowed his hands to the ground and bowed: "The villain Ye Chengxiang, named Zhi Fang, is from Huizhou, Guangdong. Our ancestors crossed the sea from Guangdong in the fourth year of Yongli and now live in Datang Street, Hoi An."
"Datang Street? Where is that place?" Hong Tao immediately asked the other party to sit down and talk, and asked someone to bring him a glass of water.
After Ye Chengxiang gave a brief introduction to Ananda Tang Street, Hong Tao blurted out: "Oh, Chinatown."
Ye Chengxiang was stunned for a moment and then said: "That's right, sir."
After finishing the gossip, Hong Tao went straight to the topic: "What do you want from us?"
"I wonder if King Zhao is here? I have made a special trip to see King Zhao this time."
Hong Tao shook his head slightly and said, "I'm not here. If you have anything, just tell me."
Ye Chengxiang thought for a moment, and since the real owner was not here, he naturally couldn't talk about that matter. However, he finally came here and couldn't return empty-handed, so he hesitated for a moment and suddenly stood up. Before the guards behind Hong Tao could stop him, he
Ye Chengxiang knelt down with a pop, cupped his hands and said: "Ye was entrusted by thousands of Tang people in Hoi An. I beg you to uphold justice for us!"